In this anime crossover, who stole my module?

Therefore, upon hearing Yotsuya Miko's words, Natsume Ryo turned to her, nodded slightly, and acknowledged the matter.

After all, there's no harm in revealing it at the right time.

It also helps to deepen this connection.

"..."

result.

These few simple words were like a thunderclap to Miko Yotsuya—

And the reasons therefor.

Or perhaps it's because this fact is just too bizarre.

If it were just something someone said casually...

Seeing the child is nothing more than a pretext for cult leaders to swindle and deceive.

However, Rikka Takanashi, who was previously "invisible," is now "visible" to Yuko Kō.

It is already a certainty.

Especially when it comes from Natsume Ryo's mouth.

Seeing this, one has no choice but to believe it.

But because of this...

Originally, in Yotsuya Miko's mind, Natsume Ryo was already incredibly strong, capable of "annihilating" a large number of terrifying beings in an instant.

nowadays

Because Natsume Ryo displayed a completely different, yet even more awe-inspiring, ability—

It suddenly rose.

After all, he is a psychic with the ability to "see".

Natsume Ryo is able to casually grant others the ability to "see" through spiritual vision.

This ability is clearly much more terrifying.

After all, this is simply an ability to freely manipulate others, moving them between the different worlds of "seeing those things" and "not seeing those things"—

It can freely manipulate a person from the "normal" world into the "abnormal" world where they can see those terrifying beings, or conversely, turn someone who can see back into someone who cannot.

In any case, it's as if only a god could have done it!

Standing beside Yotsuya Miko, Geng Wujiang, who had remained silent until now, also understood what such an ability truly meant.

After all, no one could have imagined that Natsume Ryo could turn other people's spiritual vision on or off at will, just like using a light switch.

……

"By the way, Rikka, have you seen her?"

At this time,

Natsume Ryo's voice rang out, interrupting Yotsuya Miko and Gengi Kirie's thoughts.

The two of them snapped out of their daze and looked over.

I saw.

Natsume Ryo turned his head and said to Takanashi Rikka.

"Yes, I can see it."

Upon hearing this, Rikka Takanashi immediately nodded.

"Alright, now that we can see it, let's get down to business."

Ignoring the various reactions on the other people's faces, Natsume Ryo turned his gaze back to Yuuko, steer the conversation back to where it all began—

"Senior Yuuko, you said you want to get rid of your status as a bound spirit and leave this school, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"So! I'm begging you! Natsume-kun!"

"Natsume-kun, you're so amazing, and you know so much about spirits, you must have a way to help me get rid of them."

Upon being called out by Natsume Ryo, Geng Yuko quickly straightened up, put aside all her extraneous thoughts, nodded vigorously, and once again put her hands together in a pleading gesture, looking at Natsume Ryo with a pleading expression.

Natsume Ryo didn't seem to care, and instead began to explain the matter further.

"Yes, yes."

"Regarding your request, I do know many methods."

"The problem is that, generally speaking, for a spirit to be freed, it needs to find and fulfill the obsession or unfulfilled wish that it has been clinging to in the world."

"But as you just said, you don't remember many of your memories from your life, which is a big problem."

"Yes, yes..."

"I really can't remember anything at all, nothing about what happened before I died. It's like someone forcibly ripped a piece out of my head, leaving it completely empty."

Upon hearing this, Geng Xizi quickly nodded in agreement, her fair fingers unconsciously tapping her smooth chin, trying to retrieve some fragments from that hazy sea of ​​memories.

But it was all in vain.

"That's because that part of your memory has been split off."

Looking at Geng Xizi's expression, as she tried hard to recall but came up empty-handed.

Natsume Ryo remained calm in response and continued the conversation, pointing out the problem.

"Huh? It split...out?"

Geng Xizi was taken aback upon hearing this. Her fingertip stopped at her chin, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she repeated the unfamiliar word, her pretty face showing obvious confusion.

"Can my memories... still be sliced ​​like a cake?"

"can."

Upon hearing Yuuko's words, Natsume Ryo gave an affirmative reply:

"After all, we all know that the soul does not easily dissipate after a person dies."

"Therefore, it is an important part of the soul."

"Human memory, of course, will not disappear either."

"If you have forgotten your memories, then there is only one possibility—they have been stripped from your core soul."

"In other words, the reason you feel a strange emptiness when you recall the past is because you are not a complete soul right now."

"Those forgotten memories, along with the corresponding emotions, are no longer in your body and may very well have formed another version of you."

"Another...me?"

Upon hearing this, Geng Xizi was completely stunned and did not understand Natsume Ryo's words.

"Senior, do you mean there's another Yuuko-senpai at the school?"

"Here," Yotsuya Miko asked uncertainly.

Natsume Ryo nodded, confirming Miko's guess.

"That's understandable."

"Simply put, when a living being encounters immense pain or extreme negative emotional impact that it cannot bear, its soul or spiritual body sometimes develops a self-protection mechanism in order to prevent its consciousness from collapsing."

"It's like an ordinary person getting schizophrenia."

"The reason why people get sick is mostly because they are affected by negative factors for a long time."

"This mechanism is to peel away the memories and emotions that carry pain, despair, and resentment, along with the corresponding cognition, to form an independent... fragment, or shadow."

"shadow?"

Geng Xizi repeated the sentence subconsciously, her slender eyes flashing with a thoughtful light.

She seemed to have vaguely grasped something, yet it remained unclear.

"Yes, shadow."

Natsume Ryo nodded firmly and continued.

"Between you and her, it's like you're missing a piece of a puzzle."

"The reason you have been lingering in this school for decades, unable to leave and unable to shake off your identity as a bound spirit, is most likely due to the obsession that your shadow carries."

"And she is also limited by you, and cannot go too far away."

"So, if I want to get rid of my identity as a bound spirit, I have to find that shadow and then resolve her obsession?"

Hearing this, Geng Xizi finally grasped the key point.

"That's the theory."

Natsume Ryo nodded, but then changed the subject, throwing cold water on the idea.

"But that's precisely the problem."

"As a ghost that carries all negative emotions and painful obsessions, the behavior of a shadow is unpredictable, and rash contact with it will only carry considerable risks."

"Moreover, resolving this obsession requires a thorough investigation into your forgotten past to find the root of the obsession. If she is unwilling to cooperate, this will be an even more complicated process."

"So... Natsume-kun... would you be willing to help me?"

"I don't want to."

Natsume Ryo gave a calm and straightforward negative answer.

"Eh?"

Geng Xizi's body stiffened, and the expression on her face froze instantly.

Even Yotsuya Miko and Gengi Kirie, who were standing nearby, were surprised that Natsume Ryo would refuse so quickly.

……

"After all, I have no obligation to help you."

"Moreover, finding a deliberately hidden fragment of a ghost filled with negative energy, investigating old events from decades ago, and resolving an obsession that even the person involved has forgotten... the whole process is not only troublesome, but also extremely risky."

"There is no direct benefit for me."

Natsume Ryo spoke succinctly, but then changed the subject.

"Of course, if you're willing to grant me a small request, I can help you."

"What conditions?!"

Upon hearing this, Geng Xizi immediately pressed for more details.

"The conditions are simple."

"As an exorcist, I am very interested in the shadow that was detached from you."

"I'll use her as research material."

"Research material?"

"How does Natsume-kun intend to study my shadow?"

Geng Xizi didn't understand the deeper meaning in Natsume Ryo's words, so she continued to ask.

"I want to see if your shadow will be purified with the continuous infusion of life essence."

To this, Natsume Ryo didn't keep anyone in suspense and directly threw out the word that made Geng Yuko's expression freeze instantly.

"N...Nani?"

Upon hearing this, Geng Xizi stiffened slightly, a look of doubt flashing in her slender eyes.

Then, as if suddenly reminded of something, her eyes became somewhat unfocused, and countless unhealthy images flashed through her mind. She couldn't help but cover her face with her hands, and for a moment she was speechless.

Although Yotsuya Miko and Geng Kirie, who were standing to the side, did not fully understand what Natsume Ryo meant.

But seeing Geng Xizi's sudden blushing, they vaguely sensed that this method might not be as simple as it seemed, and perhaps belonged to some forbidden territory they were not yet familiar with.

Meanwhile, Rikka Takanashi, who had been hiding behind Natsume Ryo, was also there.

Although she couldn't quite understand what they were saying either, seeing Yuuko's blushing face only fueled her curiosity. She couldn't help but peek out, tug at Natsume Ryo's sleeve, and whispered...